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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change
and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to
help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166
countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and
national development challenges.
Are you
interested to join a highly motivated and dynamic environment? Do
you have the ability required to be part of the country office’s
team? We seek a responsible, well spoken, dependable and highly
organized individual with a professional approach to their work for
the position of:
Vacancy
announcement
UNV Volunteer Project Advisor/Disaster Risk Management
Officer
POST AND JOB DESCRIPTION
Post
Title: Project
Advisor/Disaster Risk Management Officer
Country of
Assignment: Lesotho
Expected Duration of
Assignment: 12 Months
The UNV
Volunteer ethos in the post of UNV Volunteer Project
Advisor/Disaster Risk Management Officer
This post is a
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Volunteer Project Advisor/Disaster
Risk Management Officer and is based on the values of free will,
commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of
volunteerism. Volunteering brings benefits to the individual
volunteer, as well as to society. It makes important contributions,
economically as well as socially. It contributes to creating social
cohesion and capital, through helping to build trust and reciprocity
among citizens.
The United
Nations Volunteers (UNV) is the UN organization that supports
sustainable human development globally through the promotion of
volunteerism and the mobilization of volunteers. It serves the
causes of peace and development through enhancing opportunities for
participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and
embraces volunteer actions in all their diversity.
Volunteerism
is diverse and is embedded in all cultures and traditions. In this
context, as a United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Volunteer you are
encouraged and expected to relate to local volunteerism and to be
identified with the concept. You are expected to regard your
national colleagues as peers and together uphold trust as volunteers
among yourselves and within the communities and organizations to
which you are assigned.
Background
on the project “Enhancing National and Local Capacity in Disaster
Risk Reduction in Lesotho”:
Lesotho is
struggling with the serious challenge of a number of development
issues that leave it wide open to being vulnerable when a hazard
arises. It has severe food insecurity due to erratic rainfall and
cyclical droughts; these leading to lack of arable land. As well,
coupled with HIV/AIDS and declining capacity of national
institutions to effectively provide adequate and quality social
services Lesotho is prone to disasters. Consequently, the
resilience and coping mechanisms of households continue to be
negatively affected by shocks and stresses, including erratic
climatic conditions, economic shocks, the erosion of household
assets and increased morbidity and mortality levels due to
HIV/AIDS.
In 2006/7, the
Government of Lesotho together with the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) conducted a National Disaster Risk Reduction
Capacity Needs Assessments (CNA). The assessment identified major
resource constraints and capacity gaps in governance for disaster
risk reduction (DRR) (institutional and legal systems), risk
identification, information and knowledge management, emergency
response and preparedness, and risk management applications.
Following the capacity needs assessment, a National Action Plan has
been envisioned to aid in capacity development in disaster risk
reduction.
Consequently
this project strategy focuses on strengthening the disaster
management system in Lesotho and effective management of the impact
of disaster risks within the context of sustainable development.
Specifically, the project will support strengthening of government
and UNDP capacities for i) Disaster risk reduction legal and
institutional systems’ support – including review and development of
DRR policies & legislations, and strengthening of organisational/institutional
structures and systems for DRR; ii) Risk identification &
assessment as well as development of user-friendly/people centred
early warning systems; iii) integrating risk reduction in
development initiatives; iv) Preparedness and emergence response to
drought, snowfall, localised floods and hailstorms and widespread
fires; and iii) Strengthening gender equality in the implementation
of disaster risk reduction.
In the long
term, the project will contribute to i) improved national and local
disaster resilience and hence sustained national development; and
ii) improved community preparedness and hence reduced losses due to
disasters. The project will ensure that gender is mainstreamed in
DRR activities including efforts to ensure full participation of
women in decision making processes such as during policy development
and community preparedness planning.
Functions
of the UNV Volunteer Project Advisor/Disaster Risk Management
Officer
Under the direct supervision of
Sustainable Development Specialist and through him/her the UNDP
Deputy Resident Representative, the Project Advisor/Disaster Risk
Management Officer will provide technical support to UNDP, the UN
Country Team (UNCT) and the Disaster Management Authority (DMA).
The principal responsibilities
of the UNV Volunteer Project Advisor/Disaster Risk Management
Officer are to:
In close collaboration with the
Disaster Management Authority (DMA), under the Office of the Prime
Minister, and UNDP Lesotho the UNV Volunteer Project
Advisor/Disaster Risk Management Officer will work on the following
tasks:
1.
Improving national
resilience to disasters by:
1.1.
Guiding the DMA in
reviewing, developing and strengthening the legal and
institutional
framework for disaster risk reduction; specifically a drought policy
and the National Action Plan to be developed;
1.2.
Facilitating and
providing technical assistance in development and
implementation of
annual DRR plans for all structures of the disaster
management
system;
1.3.
Providing technical
assistance to improving risk identification and early warning
mechanisms at national and local levels;
1.4.
Providing technical
assistance in initiating a community based risk management
project
as a pilot/demonstration project on use of risk assessment in
development programming;
1.5.
Leading the integration
of disaster risk reduction into development policies and
plans;
1.6.
Providing technical
support to the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UNDP
and UNCT on
Disaster Risk Reduction;
1.7.
Working with the
National Focal Point in the Office of the Prime Minister to
provide
technical assistance and guidance for implementation of the National
Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction;
1.8.
Supporting/conducting
trainings and workshops for stakeholders, decision
makers, UNDP, and
DMA staff to support 1.1-1.7;
1.9.
Contributing to the
Crises Prevention and Recovery knowledge network.
2.
Strengthening/improving
community emergency preparedness by:
2.1.
Assisting in
strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response
practices;
2.2.
Providing technical
assistance to strengthen gender equality in Disaster Risk
Reduction;
2.3.
Supporting the
development and strengthening of village disaster plans and of
community organization, action planning, implementation and
awareness raising
for DRM, with a focus on the most vulnerable
communities and peoples;
2.4.
Supporting/conducting
trainings and workshops for district Disaster
Management Committees
and Village Disaster Management Teams to support
2.1 and 2.2.
3.
Promoting
volunteerism for development and peace by:
3.1.
Participating in Lesotho
Volunteer Forum and Lesotho Youth Volunteer Forum
and actively
engaging in the promotion, advocacy and integration of the
volunteer
ethos across all sectors;
3.2.
Contributing
articles/write-ups on field experiences and submitting them for
UNV
publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
Additional responsibilities
will include:
-
Liaising and maintaining a close working
relationship with different Government departments, NGOs and civil
society on behalf of UNDP, when appropriate, to ensure a smooth
linkage between UNDP and these organizations on matters of
disaster management;
-
Liaising with different UN agencies at the UN
Country Team Level in order to provide information and promote
strategies for collaborative/joint programming within the realm of
DRM;
-
Participate in the development of project
delivery reports and donor reports with respect to the project;
-
Provide the necessary administrative support.
Qualifications:
-
A post graduate degree in Development Studies
with at least 5 years of professional experience;
-
Relevant qualification in a disaster risk
management-related discipline.
Experience:
-
Experience in emergency response and disaster
risk reduction issues;
-
Experience with developing/strengthening
early warning systems and contingency plans;
-
Strong PC based computer skills, Microsoft
applications (in particular, Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
-
Sound leadership and management skills and
experience;
-
Demonstrated ability to take initiative and
work with limited or no supervision;
-
Ability to communicate and work effectively
in close coordination with many individuals, groups and divisions
to complete tasks;
-
Previous background in institutional
environment of development cooperation (NGOs, UN system,
multilateral cooperation, etc.) with preference given to
candidates with experience in UNDP procedures;
-
Good appreciation and understanding of local
and diverse cultures and African experience an advantage;
-
Fluency in written and spoken English.
If
you are interested in this position, please go to the UNV web site
to register your interest in becoming a UNV Volunteer
(www.unv.org)
and
subsequently go to the page where this UNV opportunity is posted
(http://www.unv.org/en/how-to-volunteer/unv-volunteers.html )
Your CV can be copied to
registry.ls@undp.org
with the vacancy title in the subject
Only short listed
candidates will be responded to
Closing date for
applications: 20thMay, 2009 |
